Heel protector for use inside boots and shoes



March 10, 1931.' P. M. TENNICK 1,795,225

HEEL PRCTECTOR FOR USE INSIDE BOOTS AND SHOES Filed Aug. 17, 1929 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 PAUL MONTRAVEL TENNICK, OF LONDON, ENGLAND HEEL PROTECTOR FOR USE INSIDE BOOTS AND SHOES 7 Application filed August 17, 1929, Serial No. 386,643, and in Great Britain September 13, 1928.

This invention relates to heel protectors for use with boots and shoes, such articles being usually worn outside the sock or stocking and inside the heel of the boot or shoe. It has been usual to construct such protectors of certain fixed sizes shaped to the shape yof the boot or shoe and to depend on the rigidity of construction to prevent their displacement in use, or to form them with a smooth surface on the outside and a rough or adhesive surface on the inside which clings to the sock or stocking.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a heel-protector which can antomatically adjust itself to the size and shape of the heel of the wearer and at the same time will be held in close contact with the heel so that it will not become displaced when in use or become dislodged from its proper position on the heel of the wearer. N o attempt is made to fit the protector to the shape of the boot or shoe. A further object of the invention is to provide a heel protector having a construction which though non-rigid in itself is non-collapsible when in intimate contact with the surface of the foot covering on the heel of the wearer. I

An additional object of the invention is to provide a heel protector in the formation of which the material from which it is made may be cut with greatest economy of mate- 1 example shown on theannexed drawings in rial to give'the required shape in one piece.

According to the invention I construct the heel protector from a base or tread portion having a curved or heel portion attached at its rear leaving the wings or side walls free and secure the wings or side walls to the base by an elastic or loose connection or connections, such as tape, cord or other mate- 'rial, in such manner that the elastic or loose connection or connections permits the heel protector to adjust its size and shape to the heel of the wearer.

The invention will beclearly understood from the following description aided by the which Figure 1 is 'a plan of a blank from which one heel protector is constructed.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the protector ready for use.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the protector.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the protector as used in connection with a sock. Figure 5 shows a'method of cutting out the blanks whereby the percentage of waste material is very small;

The heel protector is made of a relatively stiif'piece of material of substantially T- shape, of which the transverse portion is bent on the line K-K at substantially a right'angle to its other portion A and is also bent as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 into substantially U-shape to approximately the form of the heel of a human foot with its free'end portions B, which form wings, extending over the portion A which forms the tread. Openings 0 and D are formed in one of said wings adjacent the free end of the latter with their centers preferably in a line at a right angle to the lower edge of said wing. Similar openings E, F and G are formed in the other wing B adjacent the free end of the latter, preferably in a line at a right angle to the lower edge of said other wing.

Openings H and J of larger area than the openings C, D, E, F and G, are formed in the tread portion A.

The wings B are attached to the base or tread A by means of an elastic or extensible tape or cord L which may be silk or cotton covered.

The preferred manner of securing the elastic tape or cord is as follows. The elastic tape L is threaded through the opening C of one of the wings B, passed around the edge of the material and through the opening C again, thus securing or fastening one end of the tape L. The elastic tape L is then threaded through the second opening D of said wing, the openings J and H 'of the tread portion A and the openings E,

1 its end on the outside of the protector within gun Figure 3.

the loop I L as will be understood from The holes C, D, E, F, G are somewhat smaller in diameter than the normal cross section of the elastic tape or cord L and the holes H, J are considerably largerthan the cross section of the elastic tape or cord L so' that the tape or cord can move freely through the latter holes allowingthe longi-e tudinal center of the tread portion A to always remain at-thesamedistance from the 'free ends of the WingsIB. When the heel'protector is belng 'fitted withthe elastic tape L all surplus slack is drawn into the loop L 'and' left'there',so

7 that the heel protector, when made-is set to its smallest size.

1 1 It is important that the openings E and F be of such a diameter or area that there is sufiicient friction between the interior surby face of same and the surface of the elastic v generally larger by this amount and causing tape L or cord to resist and prevent move- -ment of the elastic tape L orcordthrough said openings E and F unless a reduction of sectional area ofthe tape L or cord takes place. This can be brought about by applying tension or strain to the tape or cord L.

Such a strain or tension is applied to the tape or cord when the heel of a foot too large for the heel protector is placed therein, (thatis a heel largerthan the protector Y when set forthe smallest size) so that-the elastic ,tape isstretched and becomes temporarily smaller in cross sectional area and therefore under strain is drawn through the openings F and E, providing extra length of ta e or cord which has come from the loop and'this extra length is added to the previouslength between the openings E and D, making the protector wider and the inner surface of theprotector to make contact with the heel of the'wearer over a The addition of the extra length reduces openings E, F, thereby preventing further movement of the elastic tape L through said openings.

, The bed protectorunder these conditions closely fits the contour of the heel of the foot and'is-held thereon by the slight remaining tension of the elastic tape L and cannot become displaced; The intimate contact brought about by such a snug fit between the inner surfaceof the protector and the foot covering of the wearer. due to the self fitting features above disclosed prevents any tend- .-ency of the protector to become dislodged 1 or displaced, fromits heel of the foot.

The oop L? may be lacedloneither side or a portion at each-side, or could be placed underneath the base or tread A by providing one or more, additional openings in the tread portion A.

Other formations of openings or manner of securingthe tape L or cord or other con neoting means could be employed to enable the protector to adjust itself to the sizeand shape required, no matter what the size or shape of the heel happens to be, for instance the tape; carats other material could be loosely sewn through the meeting edges of the wings B and *base'A 1n such manner as to allow of a movement between the wings made of any combination of these materials,

such as canvas on theinside surface and rub beron the outs de surfaceor .v1ce-versa.-

- In some cases I may employ a sock inconnect on V w th the protector. conven ent example is shown in Figure fl in which a sock N may be secured to, the protectorby having :the tape L extend through holes therein aligning with the holes in the base ;or may be cemented or otherwise secured or formed integrally with thebase A; .7 a

In Figure 5' I have shown a method. of

cutting out the blanks to obviate as far as possible any waste ofmateriaL' V 1 The device, with or without the sock, may

beemployed as a shoefiller to occupy the space caused by lncrease of size of a shoe,

due to stretchinglin use. 7 4 Iclaim: 1. A'heel. protectorcomprising a, tread I portion,.a heel portion disposed at substantially a right angle tosaidtread portion,

theextremities of said heel portion forming wings bent to the shape olt' a heel, and means connecting the wlngs of the heel portion to the tread portion and tendingto move said wingstoward oneanother, saidowings being movable apart against the resistance." of said rmeans -to automatically; adjust the size and Shape-ft heel Pr e r wa heel of the wearer, Y

2. A heel protector comprising a portion and a heel portion-extendingat substantially aright angle to said;tread,= portion,

said heelportion having a, wing at each of its extremities, said Wings being bent -to ap- ,proximatelyfthe shape of a human heel, each of said Wings vhaving a plurality of holes and said tread portion having a plurality of holes of larger arearthan those of said wings, and elastic means of larger cross sec tion than'the holes of said wingsitlireaded "through the holes in-said tread portion'and 'wings' and having a' loop between a pair of proper position on the e r being 'frictionally held in the holes in said Wings but freely movable-* through the holes the holes in one of said wings; said ord of said tread portion, substantially as and in the manner set forth.

3. A heel protector, comprising a tread portion having a pair of openings spaced respectively from its longitudinal edges, a heel portion disposed at substantially a right angle to said tread protion and having a wing at each of its extremities, each of said wings having its lower edge movable transversely of the upper surface of said tread portion and each having adjacent its free end a plurality of openings of smaller area than the openings of said tread portion, and an elastic cord threaded through and frictionally engaging the openings of said wings and also threaded through but freely movable in the openings of said tread portion, said elastic cord having a portion of its length formed into a loop between a pair of the openings in one of said wings.

4. A heel protector, comprising a tread portion, a heel portion connected to one end of said tread portion at substantially a right angle to the latter and having at each of its extremities a wing movable transversely of the upper surface of said tread portion, one of said Wings being yieldably connected adjacent its free end to the upper surface of said tread portion at a point removed from one of the longitudinal edges of the latter, the other of said Wings having a plurality of openings adjacent its free end, and a yieldable cord connected to the upper surface of said tread portion at a point removed from the other longitudinal edge of the latter and threaded through and frictionally engaging the openings of the last-named wing portion, said yieldable cord having a portion of its length formed as a loop between a pair of said openings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PAUL MON TRAVEL TENN IGK. 

